Environmental justice analysis of the Encompass 2035

UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
FY 2011
TASK 1.01, SUBTASK 7
Environmental Justice Analysis
of the Encompass 2035
September 2011
PRELIMINARY
Not For Publication
ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA GOVERNMENTS
21 East Main Street, Suite 100
Oklahoma City, OK 73104-2405
Telephone: (405) 234-ACOG (2264)
0H0H0Hhttp://www.acogok.org/
This report is the product of a project (study) financed in part by the Federal Transit
Administration and the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
The contents of this report reflect the views of the Association of Central Oklahoma
Governments (ACOG), the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Oklahoma City Area
Regional Transportation Study (OCARTS) Transportation Management Area. ACOG is responsible
for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily
reflect official views or policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation. This report does not
constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 Plan
ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA GOVERNMENTS
John G. Johnson ......................................................................... Executive Director
Transportation & Planning Services
Douglas Rex ................................................................................. Division Director
Holly Massie ...................................................................... Special Programs Officer
John Sharp ....................................................... Principal Author - Program Coordinator
Andrea Weckmueller-Behringer .................................................... Program Coordinator
Pong Wu .................................................................................... Associate Planner
Darla Hugaboom .......................................................................... Associate Planner
Kara Chiodo ............................................................................... Associate Planner
Beverly Garner .................................................................... Administrative Assistant
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 1
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (EJ) BLOCK GROUPS ................................... 3
STREET AND HIGHWAY .................................................................................... 3
TRANSIT ..................................................................................................... 5
BICYCLE ..................................................................................................... 5
SIDEWALKS .................................................................................................. 8
CONCLUSION ........................................................................... 10
FIGURES
Figure 1: OCARTS Environmental Justice Areas (BGs) ................................................... 2
Figure 2: OCARTS Planned Street and Highway Improvements ........................................ 4
Figure 3: OCARTS Transit Service .......................................................................... 6
Figure 4: OCARTS Planned and Existing Bike Facilities ................................................. 7
Figure 5: OCARTS Sidewalk Facilities ...................................................................... 9
TABLES
Table 1: Environmental Justice Area Population ........................................................ 3
Table 2: Street and Highway Lane Miles Added .......................................................... 3
Table 3: Transit Route Miles ................................................................................ 5
Table 4: Total Bicycle Facilities Mileage .................................................................. 5
Table 5: Total Sidewalk Mileage ........................................................................... 8
Table 6: Comparative Table ............................................................................... 10
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 1
INTRODUCTION
In August 2005, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users (SAFETEA-LU) was signed into law. SAFETEA-LU placed additional emphasis on
environmental stewardship and the consideration of environmental issues as a part of
metropolitan and statewide transportation planning. Each of these aspects strengthens the
linkages between planning and environment which creates opportunities to examine the
potential for environmental justice (EJ) issues early on and throughout the project delivery
process.
There are three fundamental environmental justice principles:
1. To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and
environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations
and low-income populations.
2. To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the
transportation decision-making process.
3. To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by
low-income and minority populations.
The Encompass 2035 Plan is guided by these principles. The following report documents the
methodology used to review the environmental justice considerations of the Encompass 2035
Plan and analyzes the data gathered for the review. Further information on the participation of
various groups in the development of the Plan is included in the FY 2011 UPWP Report,
Task 3.01(8a) Documentation of FY 2010 Public Involvement Activities. Another report,
FY 2011 UPWP Report, Task 1.01(6) Evaluation of Impacts of Encompass 2035, explores a
broader array of potential Plan impacts.
In the previous regional transportation plan (2030 OCARTS Plan), traffic analysis zones (TAZs)
were used as the level of geography to analyze environmental justice issues. However,
between 2000 and 2005, the number of TAZs in the region was increased from 848 to 2,450 in
an effort to refine the ACOG’s travel demand model. The increase in TAZs created a large
discrepancy in zonal size between the downtown area (i.e. one block) and those zones on the
periphery of the study area, which may be six square miles or greater. As a result, census block
groups were chosen as the level of geography for the Encompass 2035 Plan EJ analysis, as they
are more consistent in size and conform to something similar to a neighborhood.
In order to assess the effects of the proposed Encompass 2035 plan, staff created a map of
environmental justice areas and non-environmental justice areas utilizing data gathered on
traditionally underserved populations within the OCARTS region (Figure 1). Block groups were
identified that had over a 50% minority population1 and/or income 80% or less of the State Per
Capita average2. Staff then analyzed how the proposed Encompass 2035 transportation
improvements were to be allocated throughout the OCARTS area in regards to the EJ areas and
the non-EJ areas. Specifically, staff analyzed the following modal improvements: street and
highway, transit, bike, and sidewalk.
1 The census definition of minority groups includes Black, Asian, American Indian, and Other (including individuals
of Hispanic origin or multi-racial groups).
2 Low income data was recently used in the call for projects in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009
(ARRA). The low income (80% of the State Per Capita average) for a family of four was calculated to be $17,029 by
the US Census Bureau (2000 Census).
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 2
Figure 1:
OCARTS Environmental Justice Areas (BGs)
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 3
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (EJ) BLOCK GROUPS
There are 824 census block groups in the OCARTS area (2000 Census). When the minority/low
income definitions were applied to the block groups, 424 block groups were categorized as
either minority, low income, or both. Over 435,000 people, or 44% of the area’s population,
are located within those block groups.
Table 1:
Environmental Justice Area Population
Data EJ Area Non-EJ Area Total
Population 435,298 555,266 990,564
% of Population 44% 56% 100%
STREET AND HIGHWAY
Encompass 2035 suggests that between 2005 and 2035, approximately 1,023 lane miles will be
added to the region’s street and highway network.
Figure 2 illustrates that while street and highway improvements will be added throughout the
OCARTS area, the majority will occur in the higher growth areas in the north and southwest
parts of the region. Table 2 reveals that only 35% of the lane miles will be added adjacent to or
within EJ areas. This suggests that minority/low income populations within EJ areas are being
underserved. However, it should be noted that a majority of the EJ population is located in
the urban built environment. As a result, there is less opportunity for street improvements
because most section line roads have already been widened to four lanes. Despite this fact, the
Encompass 2035 Plan does assume that EJ/non-EJ areas alike will receive three cycles of
maintenance over the course of the Plan (2015, 2025, and 2035).
Table 2:
Street and Highway Lane Miles Added
EJ Area Non-EJ Area Total
Lane Miles 356 667 1,023
% Lane Miles 35% 65% 100%
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 4
Figure 2:
OCARTS Planned Street and Highway Improvements
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 5
TRANSIT
Determining the future transit changes for fixed routes over the 30 years of the Plan is a
difficult task. Unlike street and highway improvements, transit service projects, such as future
route changes are not typically submitted. The only fixed route project submitted for inclusion
in the Encompass 2035 Plan was Oklahoma City’s proposed downtown streetcar project
included in Oklahoma City’s Metropolitan Area Projects 3 (MAPS3) initiative. However, at the
time of 2035 Plan’s development, the alignment and technology had not been determined.
As a result, the current service routes from the region’s major transit service providers: METRO
Transit, CART and CityLink were used to analyze the level of service provided to the EJ areas
(Figure 3). Express routes from Norman and Edmond to Oklahoma City were also included. The
crosshatched box in Figure 3 depicts the service area for METRO Link, which is an on-demand
service provided in the Oklahoma City area.
Overall, 250 miles or 97% of the 258 miles of existing transit routes fall within or adjacent to EJ
areas. EJ areas located on the periphery of the OCARTS area receive little service, however.
Table 3:
Transit Route Miles
EJ Area Non-EJ Area Total
Route Miles 250 8 258
% Route Miles 97% 3% 100%
BICYCLE
The bicycle mode of travel has received greater emphasis in Central Oklahoma in recent years.
That has led to communities developing bike plans and adding bike facilities. Also, the
Encompass 2035 Plan gives additional consideration to street projects that include a bike
element. As a result, nearly 400 miles of bicycle facilities are planned over the next 30 years.
These improvements will include: bike lanes (220 miles), bike routes (123 miles), and trails (56
miles). Figure 4 depicts the 1,126 mile bike system envisioned by the year 2035. Table 4
reveals that nearly 53% of the mileage of these facilities will be located in EJ areas.
Table 4:
Total Bicycle Facilities Mileage
EJ Area Non-EJ Area Total
Facility Miles 596 530 1,126
% Facility Miles 53% 47% 100%
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 6
Figure 3:
OCARTS Transit Service
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 7
Figure 4:
OCARTS Planned and Existing Bike Facilities
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 8
SIDEWALKS
The Encompass 2035 Plan stresses the importance of sidewalks in Central Oklahoma. Indeed,
improving the pedestrian environment will enhance the quality of life and will provide an
important transportation option.
Sidewalk improvements have not been evaluated as part of the EJ analysis in past regional
transportation plans primarily due to the lack of sidewalk data available from OCARTS member
local governments. While a comprehensive sidewalk inventory is still not available, ACOG staff
did evaluate independent sidewalk projects submitted for inclusion in the Encompass 2035
Plan, as well as street and highway projects that incorporated a pedestrian element. Figure 5
reveals the approximately 1,211 miles of sidewalk projects proposed in the Plan.
48 percent or 584 miles of new sidewalk facilities are within or adjacent to EJ areas.
Table 5:
Total Sidewalk Mileage
EJ Area Non-EJ Area Total
Facility Miles 584 627 1,211
% Facility Miles 48% 52% 100%
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 9
Figure 5:
OCARTS Sidewalk Facilities
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 10
CONCLUSION
An evaluation of all improvements in the Encompass 2035 Plan reveals that only street and
highway improvements may be disproportionately located outside of EJ areas. However, as
explained earlier in this report, the reason for this discrepancy is due to the fact that most of
the EJ population is located within the urban built environment where many of the section line
roads have already been widened to four lanes. Table 6 demonstrates that transit, bike and
sidewalk improvements are all within the EJ percent population threshold.
Table 6:
Comparative Table
EJ Areas Non-EJ Areas Total
% Population 44% 56% 100%
Street and
Highway
34.8% 65.2% 100%
Transit 96.8% 3.2% 100%
Bike 52.9% 47.1% 100%
Sidewalk 48.3% 51.7% 100%

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UNIFIED PLANNING WORK PROGRAM
FY 2011
TASK 1.01, SUBTASK 7
Environmental Justice Analysis
of the Encompass 2035
September 2011
PRELIMINARY
Not For Publication
ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA GOVERNMENTS
21 East Main Street, Suite 100
Oklahoma City, OK 73104-2405
Telephone: (405) 234-ACOG (2264)
0H0H0Hhttp://www.acogok.org/
This report is the product of a project (study) financed in part by the Federal Transit
Administration and the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
The contents of this report reflect the views of the Association of Central Oklahoma
Governments (ACOG), the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Oklahoma City Area
Regional Transportation Study (OCARTS) Transportation Management Area. ACOG is responsible
for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily
reflect official views or policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation. This report does not
constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 Plan
ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA GOVERNMENTS
John G. Johnson ......................................................................... Executive Director
Transportation & Planning Services
Douglas Rex ................................................................................. Division Director
Holly Massie ...................................................................... Special Programs Officer
John Sharp ....................................................... Principal Author - Program Coordinator
Andrea Weckmueller-Behringer .................................................... Program Coordinator
Pong Wu .................................................................................... Associate Planner
Darla Hugaboom .......................................................................... Associate Planner
Kara Chiodo ............................................................................... Associate Planner
Beverly Garner .................................................................... Administrative Assistant
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 1
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (EJ) BLOCK GROUPS ................................... 3
STREET AND HIGHWAY .................................................................................... 3
TRANSIT ..................................................................................................... 5
BICYCLE ..................................................................................................... 5
SIDEWALKS .................................................................................................. 8
CONCLUSION ........................................................................... 10
FIGURES
Figure 1: OCARTS Environmental Justice Areas (BGs) ................................................... 2
Figure 2: OCARTS Planned Street and Highway Improvements ........................................ 4
Figure 3: OCARTS Transit Service .......................................................................... 6
Figure 4: OCARTS Planned and Existing Bike Facilities ................................................. 7
Figure 5: OCARTS Sidewalk Facilities ...................................................................... 9
TABLES
Table 1: Environmental Justice Area Population ........................................................ 3
Table 2: Street and Highway Lane Miles Added .......................................................... 3
Table 3: Transit Route Miles ................................................................................ 5
Table 4: Total Bicycle Facilities Mileage .................................................................. 5
Table 5: Total Sidewalk Mileage ........................................................................... 8
Table 6: Comparative Table ............................................................................... 10
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 1
INTRODUCTION
In August 2005, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users (SAFETEA-LU) was signed into law. SAFETEA-LU placed additional emphasis on
environmental stewardship and the consideration of environmental issues as a part of
metropolitan and statewide transportation planning. Each of these aspects strengthens the
linkages between planning and environment which creates opportunities to examine the
potential for environmental justice (EJ) issues early on and throughout the project delivery
process.
There are three fundamental environmental justice principles:
1. To avoid, minimize, or mitigate disproportionately high and adverse human health and
environmental effects, including social and economic effects, on minority populations
and low-income populations.
2. To ensure the full and fair participation by all potentially affected communities in the
transportation decision-making process.
3. To prevent the denial of, reduction in, or significant delay in the receipt of benefits by
low-income and minority populations.
The Encompass 2035 Plan is guided by these principles. The following report documents the
methodology used to review the environmental justice considerations of the Encompass 2035
Plan and analyzes the data gathered for the review. Further information on the participation of
various groups in the development of the Plan is included in the FY 2011 UPWP Report,
Task 3.01(8a) Documentation of FY 2010 Public Involvement Activities. Another report,
FY 2011 UPWP Report, Task 1.01(6) Evaluation of Impacts of Encompass 2035, explores a
broader array of potential Plan impacts.
In the previous regional transportation plan (2030 OCARTS Plan), traffic analysis zones (TAZs)
were used as the level of geography to analyze environmental justice issues. However,
between 2000 and 2005, the number of TAZs in the region was increased from 848 to 2,450 in
an effort to refine the ACOG’s travel demand model. The increase in TAZs created a large
discrepancy in zonal size between the downtown area (i.e. one block) and those zones on the
periphery of the study area, which may be six square miles or greater. As a result, census block
groups were chosen as the level of geography for the Encompass 2035 Plan EJ analysis, as they
are more consistent in size and conform to something similar to a neighborhood.
In order to assess the effects of the proposed Encompass 2035 plan, staff created a map of
environmental justice areas and non-environmental justice areas utilizing data gathered on
traditionally underserved populations within the OCARTS region (Figure 1). Block groups were
identified that had over a 50% minority population1 and/or income 80% or less of the State Per
Capita average2. Staff then analyzed how the proposed Encompass 2035 transportation
improvements were to be allocated throughout the OCARTS area in regards to the EJ areas and
the non-EJ areas. Specifically, staff analyzed the following modal improvements: street and
highway, transit, bike, and sidewalk.
1 The census definition of minority groups includes Black, Asian, American Indian, and Other (including individuals
of Hispanic origin or multi-racial groups).
2 Low income data was recently used in the call for projects in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009
(ARRA). The low income (80% of the State Per Capita average) for a family of four was calculated to be $17,029 by
the US Census Bureau (2000 Census).
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 2
Figure 1:
OCARTS Environmental Justice Areas (BGs)
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 3
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (EJ) BLOCK GROUPS
There are 824 census block groups in the OCARTS area (2000 Census). When the minority/low
income definitions were applied to the block groups, 424 block groups were categorized as
either minority, low income, or both. Over 435,000 people, or 44% of the area’s population,
are located within those block groups.
Table 1:
Environmental Justice Area Population
Data EJ Area Non-EJ Area Total
Population 435,298 555,266 990,564
% of Population 44% 56% 100%
STREET AND HIGHWAY
Encompass 2035 suggests that between 2005 and 2035, approximately 1,023 lane miles will be
added to the region’s street and highway network.
Figure 2 illustrates that while street and highway improvements will be added throughout the
OCARTS area, the majority will occur in the higher growth areas in the north and southwest
parts of the region. Table 2 reveals that only 35% of the lane miles will be added adjacent to or
within EJ areas. This suggests that minority/low income populations within EJ areas are being
underserved. However, it should be noted that a majority of the EJ population is located in
the urban built environment. As a result, there is less opportunity for street improvements
because most section line roads have already been widened to four lanes. Despite this fact, the
Encompass 2035 Plan does assume that EJ/non-EJ areas alike will receive three cycles of
maintenance over the course of the Plan (2015, 2025, and 2035).
Table 2:
Street and Highway Lane Miles Added
EJ Area Non-EJ Area Total
Lane Miles 356 667 1,023
% Lane Miles 35% 65% 100%
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 4
Figure 2:
OCARTS Planned Street and Highway Improvements
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 5
TRANSIT
Determining the future transit changes for fixed routes over the 30 years of the Plan is a
difficult task. Unlike street and highway improvements, transit service projects, such as future
route changes are not typically submitted. The only fixed route project submitted for inclusion
in the Encompass 2035 Plan was Oklahoma City’s proposed downtown streetcar project
included in Oklahoma City’s Metropolitan Area Projects 3 (MAPS3) initiative. However, at the
time of 2035 Plan’s development, the alignment and technology had not been determined.
As a result, the current service routes from the region’s major transit service providers: METRO
Transit, CART and CityLink were used to analyze the level of service provided to the EJ areas
(Figure 3). Express routes from Norman and Edmond to Oklahoma City were also included. The
crosshatched box in Figure 3 depicts the service area for METRO Link, which is an on-demand
service provided in the Oklahoma City area.
Overall, 250 miles or 97% of the 258 miles of existing transit routes fall within or adjacent to EJ
areas. EJ areas located on the periphery of the OCARTS area receive little service, however.
Table 3:
Transit Route Miles
EJ Area Non-EJ Area Total
Route Miles 250 8 258
% Route Miles 97% 3% 100%
BICYCLE
The bicycle mode of travel has received greater emphasis in Central Oklahoma in recent years.
That has led to communities developing bike plans and adding bike facilities. Also, the
Encompass 2035 Plan gives additional consideration to street projects that include a bike
element. As a result, nearly 400 miles of bicycle facilities are planned over the next 30 years.
These improvements will include: bike lanes (220 miles), bike routes (123 miles), and trails (56
miles). Figure 4 depicts the 1,126 mile bike system envisioned by the year 2035. Table 4
reveals that nearly 53% of the mileage of these facilities will be located in EJ areas.
Table 4:
Total Bicycle Facilities Mileage
EJ Area Non-EJ Area Total
Facility Miles 596 530 1,126
% Facility Miles 53% 47% 100%
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 6
Figure 3:
OCARTS Transit Service
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 7
Figure 4:
OCARTS Planned and Existing Bike Facilities
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 8
SIDEWALKS
The Encompass 2035 Plan stresses the importance of sidewalks in Central Oklahoma. Indeed,
improving the pedestrian environment will enhance the quality of life and will provide an
important transportation option.
Sidewalk improvements have not been evaluated as part of the EJ analysis in past regional
transportation plans primarily due to the lack of sidewalk data available from OCARTS member
local governments. While a comprehensive sidewalk inventory is still not available, ACOG staff
did evaluate independent sidewalk projects submitted for inclusion in the Encompass 2035
Plan, as well as street and highway projects that incorporated a pedestrian element. Figure 5
reveals the approximately 1,211 miles of sidewalk projects proposed in the Plan.
48 percent or 584 miles of new sidewalk facilities are within or adjacent to EJ areas.
Table 5:
Total Sidewalk Mileage
EJ Area Non-EJ Area Total
Facility Miles 584 627 1,211
% Facility Miles 48% 52% 100%
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 9
Figure 5:
OCARTS Sidewalk Facilities
ACOG Environmental Justice Analysis of Encompass 2035 10
CONCLUSION
An evaluation of all improvements in the Encompass 2035 Plan reveals that only street and
highway improvements may be disproportionately located outside of EJ areas. However, as
explained earlier in this report, the reason for this discrepancy is due to the fact that most of
the EJ population is located within the urban built environment where many of the section line
roads have already been widened to four lanes. Table 6 demonstrates that transit, bike and
sidewalk improvements are all within the EJ percent population threshold.
Table 6:
Comparative Table
EJ Areas Non-EJ Areas Total
% Population 44% 56% 100%
Street and
Highway
34.8% 65.2% 100%
Transit 96.8% 3.2% 100%
Bike 52.9% 47.1% 100%
Sidewalk 48.3% 51.7% 100%